In Japan, a shrine (jinja, 神社) is a place of worship in Shinto, the indigenous religion that honours kami (神) — sacred spirits tied to nature, ancestors, heroes, and remarkable places. Unlike a church or temple built mainly for sermons, a shrine is a living threshold between everyday life and the sacred: a grove, a gate, a hall, and open ground where people pause, bow, and leave offerings.
Shrines appear throughout daily life in Japan. Neighbours visit a local ujigami shrine for protection; students pray for exams at a Tenjin shrine; merchants favour Inari shrines; families buy omamori charms and draw omikuji fortune slips; and at New Year millions attend hatsumōde (初詣), the first shrine visit of the year. Festivals (matsuri), weddings, and seasonal rituals still centre on shrine communities, even when faith is quiet or personal.
Many shrine grounds also overlap with the world of folklore on this site. Fox messengers at Inari shrines connect to kitsune legends; thunder kami echo Raijin; boundary stones and sacred trees often appear in yōkai tales. Understanding shrines helps place those creatures in their real cultural setting — not only as story monsters, but as beings once approached with respect at the altar.
Search by name, prefecture, city, or shrine type below. Each listing notes enshrined kami, location, and a short description where available. Open a shrine page for maps, visitor notes, and links to official sites when we have them.
30,440 shrines found
Okinawa
Ryukyu-guLocated in the scenic town of Kin, Okinawa Prefecture, 前川神社 (Tani Shrine) is a revered Shinto sh...
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Okinawa
KannonObservation Hall of the Sound of Water is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess...
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Okinawa
Ami no Ōno-mikotoLocated in the heart of Naha City, Okinawa, 備瀬神殿 is a Shinto shrine that showcases traditional R...
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Okinawa
Ryūgi Ō no OkamiLocated on the southernmost tip of Okinawa, Saaji Ori Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to the sea...
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Okinawa
Sei-ritsu Temple, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of prosperity and good fortune, is located on...
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Okinawa
Tori-kamiTori-kami Shrine, a Shinto temple in Okinawa, is dedicated to the goddess of fortune and prosperity,...
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Okinawa
RyugūOutū Ōsa, located in Naha, Okinawa, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami, Ryugū, which embodies...
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Asato Hachimangu Shrine
Okinawa
HachimanLocated on the island of Okinawa, Asato Hachimangu Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the Shinto g...
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Futenma Shrine
Okinawa
RyukFutenma Shrine, located in the heart of Naha City, Okinawa, is one of Japan's oldest and most revere...
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Hakugin-do
Okinawa
Located on the island of Taketomi in Okinawa, Hakugin-do Shrine is a small but revered Shinto site d...
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Heiwa-kinendo Shrine
Okinawa
nullHeiwa-kinendo Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Naha, Okinawa Prefecture. Dedicated...
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Ibinnutaki
Okinawa
Ibinnutaki Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the southernmost prefecture of Japan, Okinawa. Dedic...
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Iimui utaki Sacred Site
Okinawa
Yonaguni no KamiLocated in the heart of Okinawa, Iimui Utaki is a sacred site revered by the indigenous Ryukyu peopl...
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Iso Shrine
Okinawa
Located in the southernmost part of Okinawa, Iso Shrine is dedicated to the Shisa lion-dog deity tha...
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Izumi Shrine
Okinawa
Izumi no OkamiIzumi Shrine, located in Naha, Okinawa, is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in the Ryukyu Kingdom. T...
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Kotohiragu Shrine
Okinawa
KotohiraguKotohiragu Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Naha, Okinawa's capital city. Dedicated...
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Macchu-utaki Sacred Site
Okinawa
RyujinThe Macchu-utaki Sacred Site, located in Okinawa Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the myt...
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Miyako Shrine
Okinawa
Ryukongu no KamiMiyako Shrine, located in the heart of Naminoue Village on Okinawa Island, is a sacred Shinto site d...
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Nanzan Shrine
Okinawa
Nanzan Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the southernmost part of Okinawa, Japan. The shrine is d...
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Shioya Ryugujin
Okinawa
Located in the heart of Okinawa, Shioya Ryugujin Shrine is a sacred site dedicated to the Dragon God...
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Shioya Ryujin
Okinawa
RyujinLocated in the heart of Okinawa, Shioya Ryujin Shrine is dedicated to the revered dragon deity, Ryuj...
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Shrine of Utin-uyaganashi
Okinawa
Utin-uyaganashiThe Shrine of Utin-uyaganashi is a Shinto shrine located in the heart of Okinawa, Japan. As one of t...
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Sumiyoshi Shrine
Okinawa
Susanoo, AmaterasuLocated on the southernmost part of Japan, Sumiyoshi Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in t...
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Takugawano-utaki Sacred Site
Okinawa
Takugawano-utaki Sacred Site is a Shinto shrine located in the picturesque town of Kunigami, Okinawa...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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